Work informed by the science of reading

The science of reading is like a recipe for how our brains learn to read. It's based on 50+ years of research from different fields like education, psychology, and neuroscience. It helps us understand the best ways to teach children to read, write, and spell - which we use to teach children effectively!

How it works

The science of reading highlights several key components that are crucial to the development of reading skills. These include:

Phonemic Awareness and Phonics

These are foundational skills that involve understanding the sounds in spoken words (phonemic awareness) and the relationship between these sounds and the letters that represent them (phonics). For example, your child will learn that the word "apple" can be broken down into sounds like "a-p-p-l-e".

Vocabulary and Backgroud

Knowing the meaning of words and having relevant background knowledge are essential for understanding the text. Explicit phonics instruction is often paired with lessons that build oral vocabulary and background knowledge. It's like having a toolbox full of tools (words) and knowing how to use them (understanding their meaning).

Reading and Writing Comprehension

This is about understanding and interpreting what's being read. It's similar to watching a movie in your head as you read a story, and being able to explain the plot to someone else. Even before young students can read on their own, they can start developing comprehension skills through activities like listening to read-alouds.

How We Use It in Our Classes

We use the science of reading to guide our teaching. We help children learn how to break down words into sounds and match these sounds to letters. We also help them build their vocabulary and background knowledge, and develop their comprehension skills.

We don't just focus on getting children to read words correctly. We also want them to understand and enjoy what they're reading. So, we use a variety of fun activities to keep them engaged and motivated.